The Our Father is the one prayer Jesus himself taught — and at Mass it comes right before Communion. Here's why, and what "give us this day our daily bread" really means in the liturgy.
The Our Father: Meaning of the Lord's Prayer and Why It Comes Before Communion
At Mass, just before Communion, the priest introduces the Our Father with the words "we dare to say." In this session of The Mass Explained, Dr. Brant Pitre opens up the Lord's Prayer that Jesus taught his disciples (Matthew 6:9–13) and shows why the Church places it here, on the threshold of Holy Communion. Drawing on the earliest sources — the first-century Didache (which already prescribes praying it three times a day with the doxology "for the power and the glory are yours forever"), the Church Fathers (Cyprian, Augustine, Jerome, Gregory the Great), and St. Thomas Aquinas — he unfolds the ancient and Eucharistic meaning of the petition "give us this day our daily bread," and why Aquinas called the Our Father "the most perfect of prayers."
Key passages & sources examined: the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9–13; Luke 11:1–4); the Didache (1st century) on the prayer and its doxology; St. Cyprian, St. Augustine, St. Jerome, and St. Gregory the Great; St. Thomas Aquinas on "daily bread" and the perfection of the prayer; and the General Instruction of the Roman Missal.
Why is the Our Father prayed at Mass right before Communion? Because it asks for "our daily bread" — which the Fathers understood above all as the Eucharist — so it prepares us to receive Holy Communion.
What does "give us this day our daily bread" mean at Mass? Literally bread, but principally the "Eucharistic Bread," per the Roman Missal and St. Cyprian.
Is the Our Father in the Bible? Yes — Jesus teaches it in Matthew 6:9–13 (and Luke 11).
Why does the priest say "we dare to say" before it? An ancient phrase (Cyprian, Augustine, Jerome): we "dare" to call God "Father" only because Christ commanded and taught us to.
Want every Sunday and feast explained like this?
Get Dr. Brant Pitre’s complete Mass Readings Explained — a new study for every Sunday and holy day.
I told him I do not know what I would do without all the knowledge I have gained from this program. Period. Dr. Grant Pitre is phenomenal and an excellent teacher.
This video series helped me to more deeply enter into Mass. Understanding the biblical and historical context brings me attention back to the altar, even when the kiddos are at their most distracting!
This supported by doctrine study illuminates a personal struggle and provides the necessary coping mechanisms to overcome adversity. Doctor Brant has an exquisite methodology of presenting the material in an informative manner that keeps you engaged in the discussion.
Love this subscription. Dr Pitre’s explanations are so understandable and helpful. Michael in customer service is always available and quickly answers any questions I might have.
I told him I do not know what I would do without all the knowledge I have gained from this program. Period. Dr. Grant Pitre is phenomenal and an excellent teacher.
This video series helped me to more deeply enter into Mass. Understanding the biblical and historical context brings me attention back to the altar, even when the kiddos are at their most distracting!
This supported by doctrine study illuminates a personal struggle and provides the necessary coping mechanisms to overcome adversity. Doctor Brant has an exquisite methodology of presenting the material in an informative manner that keeps you engaged in the discussion.
Love this subscription. Dr Pitre’s explanations are so understandable and helpful. Michael in customer service is always available and quickly answers any questions I might have.
